Extensible couch



April 15,1941.

1:.y E. woLLER EXTENSIBLE conca Filed 001'.. 5, 1939 4 ShoetS-Sheet 2 4Sheets-Sheet 5 l Zw/QRZLOP: fdl/afd Z. /Oe

E. E. WOLLER EXTENSIBLE coUcH Flled Oct 6. 1959 April 15, 1941.

April 15, 1941. E. E. woLLx-:R

EXTENSIBLE COUCH i Filed Oct. 6, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mw QM. Nw mw uwmw Patented Apr. 15, '1941 EXTENSIBLE COUCH Edward E. Woller, Kenosha,Wis., assgnor to Simmons Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation ofDelaware Application October 6, 1939, Serial No. 298,227

`11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in extensible couches and hasparticular reference to extension couches of the type wherein a movableor extensible lcouch section is adapted to be housed under a normallystationary couch section and withdrawn therefrom to operative positionalongside ofthe stationary section or entirely independent thereof.

, The main objects of the invention are to provideV an extensible' couchof the character indicated wherein the movable couch section iseffectively concealed under the stationary couch section; to provide astructure wherein the movable section may be effectively concealed inconnection with a stationary section provided with supporting legs andwherein the lower edges of the sides of the stationary section aredisposed in substantially spaced relation from the iioor so as to avoidthe massive and heavy appearance of couch structures which have sidewalls extending downwardly to within one or two inches of the licor; toprovide an extensible couch of the `character indicated which may beeasily and quietly operated both in respect of closing and openingmovements; to provide a structure wherein the stationary and movablesections may be shifted as a unit from one place to another when themovable section is in housed relation to the stationary section andwithout disturbing such relationship; to provide a structure of 3 thecharacter indicated which may be manufactured economically and at lowcost; and in general, it is the object of the invention to provide animproved extensible couch of the type set iorth.

Other objects and advantages of the invention willbe understood byreference `to the following specification and accompanying drawings (4sheets) wherein there is illustrated an extenmanually engageable meansfor facilitating movement of the movable couch section, the sectionbeing on a plane approximately as indicated by the line 4--4 of Figure1;

Figure 5 is a rear or inside elevation'of the structure shown in Figure4;

Figure 6 is a section similar to Figure 4 but showing a changed positionof the parts;

Figure '7 is a side elevation of the extensible couch in initiallyextended position and on a larger scale than Figure 3;

Figure 8 is an end elevation similar to Figure 7 but showing the movablesection in operative, extended position;

Figure 9 is a plan of a portion ci' the structure shown in Figure 8;and

Figure 10 isa plan section as indicated by the line Ill-IU of Figure 3,

Referring now to the drawings, the improved extensible couch hereindisclosed comprises a normally stationary` main couch section l5 whichincludes a suitably cushioned or upholstered seat part I6, a back restIl, end arms I8, I8 and removable seat cushions I9, I9. As bestillustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the main section includes also adepending side frame 20 of suitable construction, the same extendingcompletely around the stationary section, and legs 2|, 2| which supportthe stationary section on the oor with the lower edges 22 of thedepending side frame spaced upwardly a substantial distance from thefloor. The space between the floor and the lower edge 22 of said sideframe may be in the vicinity of six inches so as `to produce a couchstructure of more or less accepted conventional styling.

The movable couch section may be of any preferred construction and inthis instance it is illustrated as comprising a main frame 23 comprisingangle iron front and rear side members 24 and 25, respectively, andangle iron end members 26 and 2l. Suitable bed spring fabric typied bythe spring-supported wires 28 is stretched between the opposite endmembers 26 and 21 of the movable section frame,

At each end the movable section is provided with crossed legs 29 and 30which are pivotally connected intermediate their ends as indicated at3l. Each of the legs 29 and 30 is equipped at its lower end with afloor-engaging roller 32 and the leg 3l] has its upper end pivoted asindicated at 33 to the adjacent end frame member near Athe front side ofthe couch section. The rear or upper end of the leg 29 is pivotallyconnected as indicated at 34 to an arm 35 which has one of its endspivoted as indicated at 36 to the adjacent end frame member near therear side of the section. The other end of the arm is plv` oted asindicated at 31 to the adjacent end of a link 38, the opposite end ofwhich is pivoted as indicated at 39 to an operating lever `4i3. 'Theoperating lever 40 is in turn pivoted as indicated at 4l to the adjacentend frame member of the movable couch section,

The lever 40 at one end of ythe movable couch section is connected bymeans of a rod 42 or the like to the lever 43 at the opposite end of thesection so that the `operating levers 40 may be manually actuatedsimultaneously through the agency of a connecting bar or handle 42.

As shown in Figure 8, the movable couch section is disposed in extendedand elevated or operative position relative to :the stationary couchsection l5. The pillows I9 or other suitable cushion may then be placedon the movable couch section so as to bring the sleeping surface thereofinto -substantially co-planar or other selected relation to the sleepingsurface of the stationary section l5.

The movable couch section may be collapsed by swinging the levers 4Bupwardly and rearwardly about their pivots 4l whereby rocking movementis imparted to the arms 35 through the agency of the links 38. Suchrocking movement of the arms 35 is in turn transmitted through thepivotal connections 34 to `the pivotally connected, crossed or foldingleg structure so as to cause said legs to assume the folded positionillustrated in Figure 7 and in which position the top surface of themovable section is sulciently low to permit the section to be rolled onits leg rollers 32, 32 to a housed position under the stationarysection. It will be understood that the height of the movable section isreduced in the collapsing movement to such an extent that the sectionwhen collapsed may be rolled under the lower edge 22 of the main sectionside frame without lifting the front portion of the stationary section.

To provide for effectively concealing the movable section when under thestationary section, provision is made for elevating the movable sectioninto space indicated at 43 (Figures 2 and 3) which is surrounded by theside frame members 23 and over which suitable bed spring fabric 44 isstretched between supporting members 45 which are carried by said sideframe members.

Said elevating means comprises a pair of tracks 46, 46 which extendcrosswise of the stationary section and are disposed in alignment withthe leg rollers 32, 32 of the rear legs 3D of the movable couch section.Said tracks 46 are xedly secured to a longitudinally extendingsupporting member 4l which is provided at its ends with suitable earsfor receiving pivots 46, 48 by which the supporting bar 41 is pivotallymounted on brackets suchA as indicated at 49 which are secured to anddepend from suitable portions of the stationary section frame structure.The pivot mounting 48 for the tracks 46 is so located between the frontand rear ends of the respective tracks that the tracks willautomatically assume the inclined position illustrated in Figure 3 whenthe movable couch section is in extended position. The inclined positionof the tracks 45 results in this instance entirely from the unbalancedor oli-center position of the pivots 48 with reference to the length ofthe tracks 46.

When the movable couch section is rolled from its extended position asshown in Figure 3 to the position under the stationary couch section,the

rollers-32 of the rear legs 30 engage and ridev upwardly on therespectively aligned tracks 4S. Such movement of the movable couchsection is arrested by engagement of pins or stops such as indicated at8l with recessed seats or shoulders 88 provided adjacent the front endsof the said tracks 45, 46. The stops 8l are carried by and projectinwardly from the front end portions of the rear legs 3G, 3l).

For the purpose of effecting a gradual arresting of the inward movementof the movable couch section, so as to prevent jarring and slamming ofthe structure and to eliminate noises, cam-like members 49, 49 aremounted on each of the legs 30, 3Q for cooperating with suitable pins orabutments 53, 5G which project inwardly from the respective tracks 46,45. The cam devices 49 are of elongated form and include relativelyabrupt angular rear end edge portions 5|, intermediate edge portions 52which are substantially l parallel with the sides of the legs 30 andmore gradually inclined front end angular edge portions 53.

By examination and comparison of Figures 2 and 3 it will be apparentthat the relatively abrupt angular face 5l serves, upon engagement withthe pins 5e, to initially provide a strong check to the inward movementof the movable couch section. Said edges 5I ride over the pins and therelatively parallel edge portion '52 permits continued, less-resistedbut nevertheless gradually slackened movement over said pins and, ofcourse, the gradually inclined edges 53 provide for gradualdisengagement and complete relief of the indicated frictional resistanceto nward movement of the movable couch section.

The interengaging pin and cam device 50, 49, serves also to prevent `toofree outward rolling of the movable Section upon lowering of the frontends of said section and its supporting tracks and thus safeguards theoperator from injury.

As an incident to the pivoted mounting of the tracks 46, 4t it will beapparent that when the movable section reaches its innermost position,the section may be rocked as a unit with the tracks 45 so as to elevatethe front portion of the movable section into the space 43 wherein it ismore effectively concealed in its housed position. It will be observedthat the movable couch section is supported on the tracks 46 by engage-I ment of the rollers 372 at the rear side of the movable section withthe tracks 45 and by engagement of the pins or stops 81 near the frontends of the legs 30 with the underlying edge of the respective tracksand the seats 83 therein. The under-cut arrangement of the seats 88serves to provide a lip-like track portion 54 in overhanging relation tothe pins 8l for preventing downward rocking of the front portions of thetracks relative to the movable couch section.

The location of the pivots 48 is such that the weight of the portions ofthe tracks and movable couch section on opposite sides of said pivotwill counterbalance each other to such an extent that only a slightmanual force need be exerted to elevate the front portion of the movablesection to its concealed, housed position as illustrated in Figure 2.Obviously, the counterbalanced effect may be varied to suit any givendemands by shifting the location of the pivot axis, by loading orweighting either end of the tracks or by the application of springs.

For facilitating manual operation of the structure, the movable couchsection is equipped with a leg structure which is preferably locatedapproximately mid-way of the length of the movvzu.

able couch section, Said leg structure comprises a suitable leg, arm orbracket 56 which is pivoted as indicated at 51 inthe sides 58, 58 of aU- shaped bracket member 59 which is suitably secured to the front sideframe member 24 of the movable section (see Figure 10) Said leg bracket56 is provided .adjacent its lower end with a. floorengaging roller 60.The leg bracket 56 also carries a cross-arm 6I which serves as an anchorfor one end of each of a pair of springs 62, 62 which have theiropposite ends anchored to a portion of the bracket 59. The springs 62are stretched suiliciently to normally urge the leg 56 to normalsupporting position las shown in Figure 4, the

.movement of the leg under the influence of the of the leg 56 on thepivot 51. It will be apparent,

however, that when it is desired to extend lthe couch, the leg 56 may bemanually rocked outwardly on the pivot 51 against the tension of thespring 62 and the supported weight of the front portion of the movablecouch section, Such outward movement of the leg 56, as indicated inFigure 6, initially permits the front portion of the movable couchsection to rock ydownwardly in unison with the tracks .46 until suchdownward movementl is arrested by engagement of the rollers 32 of thelegs 29 with the oor, whereupon the couch section may be pulledoutwardly. Because of the inclined position of the tracks 46, but littleif any pull is required to be exerted for effecting withdrawal of themovable couch secl tion from under the stationary couch section.

For improving the appearance of the leg 56 there is provided a suitablewooden or other body 63 provided with a channel 64 on its inside facefor slidably fitting on the leg bracket 56 The body 63 is retained insuch position on the leg member 56 by means of a strap 65 which spansthe groove 64 `and extends across the face of a portion of the leg 56 asclearly shown in Figures 4 and 5. The leg body 63 is also preferablyrecessed to receive a compression spring 66 between the bottom of therecess in the leg -body and an ear or like extension 61 carried by thelower end of the leg member 56. Said `spring 66 serves to normally urgethe leg body 63 upwardly into engagement at its upper end with thebottom edge of the front frame member 20 of the stationary couchsection, thereby to avoid the appearance of a detached element ofmechanism.

It will be apparent from an examination of Figures 4 and 6 that becauseof the outwardly offset relation of the leg body 63 to the leg member 56and pivot 51, outward rocking movement of the leg 56 will necessitatedownward movement of the leg body 63 so as to avoid the obstructionpresented by the lower edge of the frame par-t Such downward movement oftheleg body 63 is permitted by the described slidable mounting of thebody on the leg 56 and such movement is preferably eected independentlyof the engagement of the upper end of the leg body 63 with the loweredge of the side frame member 20. For this purpose the upper end portionof the leg body 63 is provided with abracket part 68 rigidly secured tothe leg body and having an upper end por-tion 69 in engagement with theadjacent portion of the frame member 24.

From .a comparison of Figures 4 and 6 it will be apparent that due tothe engagement of the upper end extension 69 of the bracket 68 with theframe member 24, the leg body 63 will be automatically moved downwardlyrelative to lthe leg member 56 when the latter is swung outwardly on itspivot 51. To avoid the requirement for excessive movement of the legbody 63, the upper end thereof is grooved out as indicated at 10 toreceive the lower front corner portion of the' side frame 20 in themanner indicated in Figure 6 during an initial portion of the outwardrocking movement of the leg structure.

In many couch structures of the character indicated lthe side frameportions 20 of `the stationary couch section are covered with fabric orother finishing materials. To prevent excessive wear on such finishingmaterial where the leg body 63` rocks .around the lower edge of theframe structure 20, a suitable wear plate 1l of metal or other imaterial may be provided as indicated. l The front portion of themovable couch section, l

when in its housed position, is suppo-rted in such a position by the leg56.

In `order to facilitate shifting of the extensible couch structure yaswhen rearranging furniture in a room, a hook or latch 12 is provided.The latch hook 12 is pivoted as indicated at 13 on a suitable bracket 14carried by the stationary couch s-tructure and the jaw portion 15 of thehook is adapted to underhang the horizontal flange portion of the frontframe member 24 of the movable couch section. Downward swinging movementof the latch hook is limited by engagement of the end portion 16 thereofwith the horizontal flange of the angle iron member 45.

For the purpose of disabling the latch hook 17. when the movable couchsection is to be extended, -the leg member 56 is provided with an upperend extension 11 which 4is adapted to engage and move said hook toinoperative position as illustrated in Figure 6 when the leg is rockedoutwardly.

A lazy tong 18 or like or other suitable guiding,

means may be employed for maintaining a parallel relation between themovable couch section and the stationary couch section. Said lazy tongconstruction may have its front ends disengageably connected with themovablecouch section so as to permit complete separation of the movablesection from the stationary section in the event that it is desired toemploy the movable section as a separate single bed.

The described extensible couch structure is very easy to operate due toits simplicity and to its more or less balanced arrangement forelevating the iront portion of the movable section to concealed housedposition. Also, the inclined position of the supporting tracksfacilitates outward movement of the movable section so that but littleeffort is required to fully extend the couch structure. Because of theoVer-the-center arrangement of the supporting leg 56, the movable couchsection may be said to be self-locking in housed position *and suchlocking is automatically disengageable as an incident to the manualoperation of rocking of the leg 56 outwardly when initiating extensionof the couch structure. Due to the relative simplicity of the structure,the cost of manufacturing the same is low and its desirability both inrespect of operation durability is enhanced.

The invention described is in the nature of a modification of the priorinvention of Harry Halleran as set forth in his application Serial No.228,440, filed in the United States Patent Office on September 3, 1938.

Changes in the described structure may be made Without departing fromthe spirit of the invention, the scope of which should be determined byreference to the following claims, the.

same being construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state ofthe art.

I claim:

l. In an extension couch the combination of a normally stationarysection, a movable section adapted to be housed under said stationarysection and withdrawn therefrom to Operative position, verticallyrockable means carried by said stationary section for receiving andsupporting said movable section in elevated position under saidstationary section, said means being rockable about fulcrum pointslocated intermediate the front and rear edges of the movable sectionwhen disposed on said means, thereby to cause a rear portion of themovable section to counterbalance the front portion thereof so as tofacilitate lowering and raising of the front portion of the movablesection when withdrawing or returning the movable section to elevatedhoused position.

2. In an extension couch the combination of a normally stationarysection, a movable section adapted to be housed under said stationarysection and Withdrawn therefrom to operative position, said movablesection having supporting rollers on which the section is adapted to b-erolled into and out of position under the stationary section, verticallyrockable tracks carried by said stationary section in alignment withsaid rollers for receiving the same when said movable section is movedinto housed position, said movable section and tracks being adapted tobe rocked vertically as a unit so as to raise the front portions thereofinto a substantially concealed position.

3. In an extension couch the combination of a normally stationarysection, a movable section adapted to be housed under said stationarysection and withdrawn therefrom to operative position, said movablesection having supporting rollers on which the section is adapted to berolled into and out of position under the stationary section, verticallyrockable tracks carried by said stationary section in alignment withsaid rollers for receiving the same when said movable sectionis movedinto housed position, said movable section and tracks being adapted tobe rocked vertically as a unit so as to raise the front portions thereofinto a substantially concealed position, the arrangement being such thatthe fulcrum for said rocking movement is disposed in a position whichcauses portions of said movable section and tracks on opposite sides ofthe fulcrurd to counter-balance each other.

4.. In an extension couch the combination of a normally stationarysection, a movable section adapted to be housed under said stationarysection and withdrawn therefrom to operative position, meansv forrockably mounting said movable section on said stationary section so asto cause the rear portion thereof to counter-balance the front portionso as to facilitate lowering and raising of said front portion whenwithdrawing or returning the movable section from and to its housedposition, and manually engageable leg means carried by said movablesection for supporting the latter when in housed position and serving tofacilitate withdrawal of the movable section from said housed position.

5. In an extension couch the combination of a normally stationarysection, a movable section adapted to be housed under said stationarysection and withdrawn therefrom to operative position, means forrockably mounting said movable section on said stationary section so asto cause the rear portion thereof to counterbalance the front portion soas to facilitate lowering and raising of said front .portion whenwithdrawing or returning the movable section from and to its housedposition, and a leg member pivoted to said movable section and havingmeans adapted to engage the floor in such relation to the axis of thepivotal connection between the leg and movable section as to produce anover-the-center locking effect for maintaining the leg in operativesupporting position.

6. In an extension couch the combination of a normally stationarysection, a movable section adapted to be housed under said stationarysection and withdrawn therefrom to operative position, means forrockably mounting said movable section on said stationary section so asto cause the rear portion thereof to counter-balance the front portionso as to facilitate lowering and raising of said front portion whenwithdrawing or returning the movable section from and to its housedposition, latch means for holding said movable section in predetermined,elevated, housed position and manually engageable means for facilitatinglowering and withdrawal of said movable section and operative toautomatically effect disengagement of said latch means to permitlowering of said movable section.

'7. In an extension couch the combination of a normally stationarysection, a movable section adapted to be housed under said stationarysection and Withdrawn therefrom to operative position, said movablesection having supporting rollers on which the section is adapted to berolled into and out of position under the stationary section, verticallyrockable tracks carried by said stationary section in alignment withsaid rollers for receiving the same when said movable section is movedinto housed position, said movable section and tracks being adapted tobe rocked vertically as a unit so as to raise the front portions thereofinto a substantially concealed position.

8. In an extension couch the combination of a normally stationarysection, a movable section adapted to be housed under said stationarysection and withdrawn therefrom to operative position, said movablesection having supporting rollers on which the section is adapted to berolled into and out of position under the stationary section, verticallyrockable tracks carried by said stationary section in alignment withsaid rollers for receiving the same when said movable section is movedinto housed position, said movable section and tracks being adapted tobe rocked vertically as a unit so as to raise the front portions thereofinto a substantially concealed position, and means for interlocking saidmovable section and tracks so as to insure unitary movement thereof whenthe movable section is in housed position.

9. In an extension couch the combination of a normally stationarysection, a movable section adapted to be housed under said stationarysection and withdrawn therefrom to operative position, means carried bysaid stationary section .for rockably supporting said movable section sobalance the front portion, whereby, when said t movable section isdisposed under said stationary section, raising of the front portion ofthe movable section to substantially concealed position within thestationary section is facilitated.

10. In an extension couch, the combination of a normally stationarysection, a movable section adapted to be housed in elevated,substantially concealed position under said stationary section andwithdrawn therefrom to operative position, means for rockably supportingsaid movable section on said stationary section so as to cause the rearportion of the movable section to counterbalance its front portion,thereby facilitating the lowering and raising of said front portion forthe purpose of withdrawing and returning the movable section from and toits housed position, said means comprising vertically rocakable trackscarried by said stationary section, said movable section being providedwith foldable legs having rollers for iioor engagement for facilitatinglateral movement of the movable section from and to its housed position,said rollers being disposed in alignment with said tracks whereby thelatter are adapted to receive said rollers when the movable section ismoved laterally into a position underlying said stationary section. v

11. In an extension couch, the combination of a normally stationarysection, a movable section Y adapted to be housed in elevated,substantially concealed position under said stationary section andwithdrawn therefrom to operative position, means for rockably supportingsaid movable section on said stationary section so as to cause the rearportion of the movable section to counterbalance its front portion,thereby facilitating the lowering and raising of said front portion forthe purpose of withdrawing and returning the movable section from and toits housed position, and means for controlling the tendency of saidmovable section to move outwardly as an incident to the downwardinclination of said rockable supporting means when the front portion ofsaid movable section is lowered.

EDWARD E. WOLLER.

